2016 Barometer Launch

Date: September 1, 2016

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By Sifisosami Dube

Ezulwini, Swaziland – 14 August 2016: Civil society organisations across SADC launched the eighth edition of the SADC Gender Protocol Barometer at Royal Swazi Spa Hotel in Swaziland. Officially launching the publication, Abbie Dithlake, Executive Director of SADC CNGO said the Barometer provides a spring board to set an inclusive society now and for future generations. The launch of the Barometer preceded the annual gathering of the SADC civil society organisations. Civil society called for more space in gender policy making at a regional and national level.

At the June 2016 SADC Gender Ministers Meeting held in Gaborone, Botswana, the SADC Executive Secretary acknowledged SADCs formulation of a comprehensive Protocol on gender and development as a significant move for the sub-region. She however pointed out that the potential of SADC men and women could be greatly nurtured through the effective implementation of the Protocol through an enabling institutional environment.

The SADC Gender Protocol Barometer has tracked gender equality progress based on the SADC Gender Protocol since 2009. The 2016 Barometer features the Gender Progress Score (GPS) which gauges gender attitudes across sectors in the SADC region.

The Barometer highlights progress using two yardsticks of measuring gender equality; the empirical SADC Gender and Development Index (SGDI) and the perception based Citizen Score Card (CSC). Both yardsticks peg progress at 69% across the SADC region. Seychelles and Namibia are leading the way for the SGDI score at 80% and DRC at the bottom with a 50% score.

Earlier this month, the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka urged civil society and governments alike to track progress in gender equality at a high level panel on women’s empowerment organised by UN Women and Oxfam. The SADC Gender Unit is finalising a monitoring framework for the revised gender Protocol. Read more about the 2016 Barometer.